Mowing machine



July 26, 1938. J RI 2,124,632

MOWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1936 YINVE'NTOR cud 119M042 I w wm PatentedJuly 26, 1938 UNITED, STATES 2.124532 owING MACHINE- Id ris J. Richards,Pittsburgh. Pa; Application peccniber 9, 1936,-Serial No. 114,898

" 1 clai (01. 56-262) 7 This invention relates to 7a m'owing- "machine,and while herein 'illustrated and'described asfem} bodied in a lawnmower, it will be obvious that the invention may be embodied in'apowerfoperated mowing apparatus, or'in 'anyijotherftype jojf grassmowing mechanism wherein "itjis foundto be applicable. Y 7 p Importantobjects and advantages of the invention are to provide a mowingma'chineof the c aracter described, which "may be'success' fiilly constructedand operated to cut an' exceptionally wide swath of grass, whichwillfacilitate thecuttin'g of grass at the edges of side walks,under"hedges and other plants, or near any other kind "of obstruc- 16tions, which is simple in its construction and arrangement beinggearless and embodying relatively few parts, and which is comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of these andsuch' other objects as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists of the novel construction," combinationand arrangement of parts herein specifically "described andillustratedin the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood thatchanges in the form, proportions and details of construction may beresorted to that come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front view of a lawn mower embodying the present inventionand being partly in section and with the cutter elements removed.

Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively, top plan and side views of thedevice.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the frame and of associated parts takenon line 4-4, Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing I denotes an integral, substantiallyU-shaped frame, comprising a horizontally disposed bottom 2, and a pairof vertically extending side members 3.

The frame I is supported by a pair of comparatively large tractionwheels 4 and a pair of relatively small trailer wheels 5. The trailerwheels are revolubly connected to the rear end of the extensions 6 ofthe frame side members 3 and support the rear end of the mower.

A horizontally disposed shaft 1 extends through the frame I and isspaced from the frame bottom 2. The shaft is suitably journaled forrotation in the frame side members 3 and carries the traction wheels 4,which are fixed, in any suitable manner, to respective ends of saidshaft, outwardly of the frame side members. 7

Each of the traction wheels 4 is provided with a cylindrical cam 8,whichextendslaterally inward PATENT oer-ice;

therefrom. The cylindrical cams are preferably formed integral with theinner side of the traction wheels and are disposed" equi-distant fromthe axis and spaced from the peripheries of respective traction wheels.

The traction wheels 4 are so adjusted-onrespective ends of the shaft "lthat the undulations of the cylindrical cams 8 are disposed in staggeredrelation with respect to each other.

In other words,

the projections on the inner working faceof one of the cylindrical camsare horizontally aligned with the depressions'on the inner working faceof the other of said cylindrical cams.

As' the traction wheels are fixed in position on'the shaft, thestaggered relation of the cylindrical cams,,in the manner set forth, ispermanently'maintainedL' The front portion 9, of the frame bottom 2,projects forwardly of the tractionwheels 4, and

includes lateral extensions I0 disposed on respeotive sides thereofand'exten'ding'beyond the traction wheels, asiclearlyillustrated inFigure. 1.2

A cutter bar H ,of'the usual constructionem bodying a plurality ofregularly spaced slotted fingers, is fixed in the horizontal positiontothe frame front portion 9. A cutter member l2, of the well knownconstruction, is mounted for lateral reciprocal movement on the framefront portion 9 and includes the triangular cutters, which ber l2.

The rear edge margin of the base plate is depressed and shiftablyengaged by a pair of guide plates l5, which are secured to the framebottom 2.

A pair of cutter guides 16 is fixed to respective frame side members 3and engage the top of the cutter member l2 for maintaining the latter inposition relatively to the cutter bar II, while allowing the lateralreciprocal movement of the cutter member.

By removing the screws l4 to release the base plate l3 from the cuttermember I 2, the latter may be removed from the cutter bar.

for sharpening, repairs, or for any other purposes required.

A channel bar guide I! is detachably secured to the top of the baseplate l3 by means of screws I8. The top of the bar guide 11 is providedwith a centrally disposed, comparatively large aperture [9 and a pair oflaterally aligned slots 20 which open into said aperture I!) atrespective sides of the latter.

A cam bar 2| is mounted and slidably engaged in the bar guide I'L Thecam bar carries a :fixed, vertically extending bolt 22, which isprovided with a head 23 and projects upwardly through the bar guideaperture IS. A wing nut 24 is engaged on the bolt 22, and the diameterings 26 in respective frame side members 3 and engage the inner workingfaces of the cylindrical cams 8, carried at the inner side of respectivetraction wheels 4 The rotation of the traction wheels will impart alateral reciprocal mo v e ment to the cam bar 2|. The frequency of suchreciprocal movements is,; of course, determined by the number ofundulations on the cylindrical cams 8, and is such as to eflicientlyeffect grass 5 cutting operations.

A suitable handle 28 secured to the frame I and provided tofacilitatei'the pushing of the mower forwardly during grass cuttingoperations, in the manner identical to that. employed in connection witha lawn mower of the type now'in common use.

When the nut 24 is adjusted on the bolt 22 to seat on the cam -bar 2|through the aperture IS, the cam bar cannot reciprocate idly in the barguide I1, but the latter is engaged by said nut, whereby the lateralreciprocal movement of the cam bar imparts likemovement to the cam bar,base plate l3, and. cutter member 12 to effect grass cutting operations.However, when the nut 24 is released on the'bolt 22 to the distancepermitted by the bolt head 23, it will clear the top of the bar guidel1, and allow the idle reciprocation of the cambar in the bar guide. Theslots 20 in the bar guide provide clearance'for the travel of thevbolt.22 ,during such idle movement of the cam bar. ,By this'arrangement theoperation of the cutter member l2 may be suspended while the mower isbeing transported from place to place on its traction wheels 4. The

provision of the bolt head 23 prevents the removal and possible loss ofthe nut 24 and is a definite stop for the latter when in the releasedposition. a

The shaft 1 is preferably provided with a plu rality of fixed, radiallydisposed fingers 27, which device of its kind, which is convenientlyoperable, and which is particularly effective for cutting grassclose tothe edges of side walks and the like, under and around hedges, plants,or other obstructions. t

a What I claimis:

In a grass mowing machine described,- the combination of a frameincluding a ,bQttOm and a projecting front portion, a hori-Zontallydisposed shaft revolubly mounted in said frame, a pair oftraction wheels fixed to respective ends of said shaft, a cylindricalcam carried at the inner side of each of said wheelsacutter bar fixed'inthe horizontalpositionto said front portion of the frame, a cuttermember mounted for lateral reciprocal movement on said front portion,and extending into said cutter bar, a

nel guide secured to the top of said base. plate and having a slottedopening in the top thereof,

a cam bar longitudinally shiftable in said guide,

of the character each end of said bar having a cam head engaging inrespective cylindrical cams for impartinglatg eral reciprocal movementto said bar during the rotation of the cylindrical cams, 'a verticallyextending bolt'fixed to said cam bar, and projecting through saidslotted opening in said guide,fand a nut adjustably mounted on saidbolt.

'IDRIS J. RICHARDS.

